Here's a quick look at the characteristics of the four most common hairless
dog breeds: the American Hairless Terrier, the Chinese Crested, the Peruvian Inca Orchid, and the Xoloitzcuintli.
The last three breeds, Crested, PIO and Xolo, all have dominant hairlessness,
meaning all these breeds have hairless and coated individuals. Litters usually
contain both hairless and coated pups. The hairless dogs have various amounts
of hair on their heads, feet, and tail. Most have incomplete dentition with
missing teeth. They may suffer from skin irritations.
The American Hairless Terrier is unique among all hairless dog breeds because
it exhibits recessive hairlessness (see AHT genetics
tables). Thus, it is the only hairless breed that is truly hairless and
bald. It doesn't have any "normal" dog hair. Still, AHTs may have very
short and super fine, nearly invisible "peach fuzz" (vellus) hair covering
their body. Because the hairless pattern is recessive in the AHT, hairless
parents can only produce hairless offspring. American Hairless Terriers have
full dentition and seldom suffer from skin problems if the skin is well cared
for.
Note: The American Hairless Terrier was born as the result of a natural gene
mutation in the Rat Terrier. Therefore, there are some "coated" American
Hairless Terriers (Rat Terriers carrying the hairless gene) that are used
in carefully planned breedings to enlarge the AHT gene pool.
American Hairless Terriers
- What are they really like? Comments from owners:
All American Hairless Terriers are different… have distinct
personalities… wonderful personalities… easy to live with…
smart... intelligent… extremely loving... cuddly... very
playful... sweet...clowns... full of energy... active…
happy… a lot of fun… easy to care for… devoted companions...
love to travel in the car... love to go everywhere with you... love
attention… very entertaining… can be sensitive and get their feelings
hurt… can be jealous of attention... calm down easily… very adaptable
and flexible… small dogs with large hearts… get along well with
other dogs in the family... eager to learn and please… good family
dogs… want to cuddle up and be petted… love snuggling... true
lapdogs… love to sleep on your arms or under the blanket… some
like to snuggle all the time and some only occasionally… get along with
people in the house and in public, especially when well socialized... most
love kids and other animals… like to play with children... want to run
and play…like to play fetch... some play ball and some don't… learn
obedience commands easily, but don't always like to obey... can have a mind
of their own... easily trained with positive methods… most are not
aggressive… can run and play wildly… some need plenty of
exercise… some are very active and intense… but usually are not
nervous dogs… have wonderful soft skin that is very pleasant to touch
and pet... skin scrapes heal easily... no pimples... burn in the sun without
sun protection... need frequent baths... need clothes when cold... easy to
crate train... easy to housebreak... some are not so easy to housebreak...
some do not get along so well with other dogs, especially if not well
socialized... can be strong willed and independent... don't always like to
come when called... like to bark when visitors first arrive… feisty...
can get zooms every now and then and run around superfast just for fun...
can be hyper at times running in circles… rambunctious... strong
willed… a split personality dog… almost like having two personalities
- cuddly and loving vs. feisty and energetic... love to chew and shred dog
toys, fabric, and paper... like to nibble with their mouths... like
chewing… can be nippy… like to use their mouths a lot… some
like to dig... can be vocal... don't like to be teased by misbehaving children
and can snap at them...
Size: Height 10-16 inches (UKC, AHTA).
For more American Hairless Terrier pages, see
the sitemap.
AHT photo: my Sweet Lucy of course :o)
Chinese Cresteds - What
are they like?
Chinese Crested is the most common hairless breed… currently the only
hairless breed
recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), recognized
Feb 1991… look like little ponies… delightful… lively…
very active… but can settle down when needed… intelligent…
devoted… affectionate… demand to be cuddled, held and loved…
will not let you ignore them… playful… know how to make people
laugh… sensitive, may sulk if scolded… people-loving…
versatile… very extroverted, sociable, outgoing… attentive…
extreme in desire to please… easy to train… ideal companions…
humanistic… expressive… very alert… good watchdogs… "houndy"
in character and confirmation… may be aloof with strangers… like
to chase small animals… howl when extremely excited… any color,
solid or spotted… can suffer from skin problems, e.g. pimples…
prone to sunburn… tan in the sun… need protection from cold…
tolerated by many allergic people… can be pests in their demands…
some are hard to housebreak… some genetic problems… comes in two
varieties: hairless and powderpuff with double soft and silky coat…
on hairless the amount of hair varies from almost totally hairless body to
almost coated (hairy hairless)… hair on the head is called crest, hair
on the tail is a plume, and hair at the feet are socks…
Peruvian Inca Orchids are hairless sight hounds (hunt by sight, not scent)
native to South
America… like chasing small animals… trim…
fast… graceful… deer like in structure and movement… noble…
elegant… affectionate… loyal companions to their owners…
devoted… gentle… fun loving… sweet tempered … alert…
lively… calm… quiet… even tempered... laid back… can
be taken anywhere... sensitive… do not do well with rough handling...
respond well to gentle treatment… highly intelligent… quick
witted… reserved with strangers at first… aloof… need early
socialization… independent… easy to live with… get along with
other dogs… usually good with kids… not aggressive… need
protection from cold and sun (if light skinned)… hardy… hairless
have upright ears, coated have drop ears… all colors, but white or pink
background with colored spots is preferred… lack of full dentition in
the hairless... healthy breed with almost no genetic disease...
Depending on the registry, PIOs and Peruvian Hairless are registered as one
breed or as two separate breeds.
Size: Peruvian Inca Orchid - dogs 18-22 inches, bitches 17-21 inches
(PIOCA).
Size: Peruvian Hairless/Perro sin pelo del Perú - small, medium, and
large; from 9.75 inches to 25.75 inches (FCI).
Xoloitzcuintlis - What are
they really like? Comments from owners:
Xolos are very loving and affectionate… love to snuggle with their favorite
person...extremely intelligent, keep you on your toes… very high
learners… excel in obedience classes with gentle
instruction... curious… independent thinkers…
still primitive… hardy… generally very healthy… sensitive…
relatively calm dogs… playful… get along well with kids when properly
socialized… cheerful… attentive… alert… excellent pets…
exceptionally intuitive… very expressive... super companions for those
who want a devoted dog … extremely loyal to his master… affectionate
with his family... some like to howl to music… do not require much exercise,
but love it… like to lounge on the sofa... protective… guards and
protects naturally… excellent watch dog… good guard dog... like
to "keep an eye" on the visitors, just in case… some don't like to be
touched by visitors or strangers, especially if not well socialized…
suspicious towards strangers... working dog temperament... strong temperament...
tolerate sun well (dark ones)… tan in the sun… need protection
from the sun if light skinned... need protection from cold… tolerate
cold climates with proper clothing… totally devoted to his family and
doesn't care if anybody else exists… tend to bond to one person…needs
early socialization… needs early training with gentle methods, no harsh
corrections…tolerated by many allergic dog owners… adaptable to
all styles of living... eager to please his owner… needs to be involved
in the family life… follows you everywhere, even to the bathroom :o)…
can suffer from skin irritations… some have drug sensitivities…
like to lick themselves like a cat… escape artists… strong
willed… some are energetic, some are placid… can be hardheaded…
some are sweet, some are not so sweet… can be aggressive… can be
suspicious… some are timid… demands attention… can be
highstrung… can be dog aggressive… some might be too much to handle
for a first-time dog owner, especially the large size ones...
Size: Xolos are registered in three or two sizes, depending on the registry
(e.g. FCI, FCM, UKC). Sizes are called toy, miniature, and standard; or
miniature, intermediate, and standard. Height standards also vary somewhat
according to the registry, but range from a minimum of 9.75 inches to maximum
of 23.5 inches.
American Hairless Terriers
- What are they really like? Comments from owners:
playful... sweet...clowns... full of energy... active…
happy… a lot of fun… easy to care for… devoted companions...
love to travel in the car... love to go everywhere with you... love
attention… very entertaining… can be sensitive and get their feelings
hurt… can be jealous of attention... calm down easily… very adaptable
and flexible… small dogs with large hearts… get along well with
other dogs in the family... eager to learn and please… good family
dogs… want to cuddle up and be petted… love snuggling... true
lapdogs… love to sleep on your arms or under the blanket… some
like to snuggle all the time and some only occasionally… get along with
people in the house and in public, especially when well socialized... most
love kids and other animals… like to play with children... want to run
and play…like to play fetch... some play ball and some don't… learn
obedience commands easily, but don't always like to obey... can have a mind
of their own... easily trained with positive methods… most are not
aggressive… can run and play wildly… some need plenty of
exercise… some are very active and intense… but usually are not
nervous dogs… have wonderful soft skin that is very pleasant to touch
and pet... skin scrapes heal easily... no pimples... burn in the sun without
sun protection... need frequent baths... need clothes when cold... easy to
crate train... easy to housebreak... some are not so easy to housebreak...
some do not get along so well with other dogs, especially if not well
socialized... can be strong willed and independent... don't always like to
come when called... like to bark when visitors first arrive… feisty...
can get zooms every now and then and run around superfast just for fun...
can be hyper at times running in circles… rambunctious... strong
willed… a split personality dog… almost like having two personalities
- cuddly and loving vs. feisty and energetic... love to chew and shred dog
toys, fabric, and paper... like to nibble with their mouths... like
chewing… can be nippy… like to use their mouths a lot… some
like to dig... can be vocal... don't like to be teased by misbehaving children
and can snap at them...
recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), recognized
Feb 1991… look like little ponies… delightful… lively…
very active… but can settle down when needed… intelligent…
devoted… affectionate… demand to be cuddled, held and loved…
will not let you ignore them… playful… know how to make people
laugh… sensitive, may sulk if scolded… people-loving…
versatile… very extroverted, sociable, outgoing… attentive…
extreme in desire to please… easy to train… ideal companions…
humanistic… expressive… very alert… good watchdogs… "houndy"
in character and confirmation… may be aloof with strangers… like
to chase small animals… howl when extremely excited… any color,
solid or spotted… can suffer from skin problems, e.g. pimples…
prone to sunburn… tan in the sun… need protection from cold…
tolerated by many allergic people… can be pests in their demands…
some are hard to housebreak… some genetic problems… comes in two
varieties: hairless and powderpuff with double soft and silky coat…
on hairless the amount of hair varies from almost totally hairless body to
almost coated (hairy hairless)… hair on the head is called crest, hair
on the tail is a plume, and hair at the feet are socks…
America… like chasing small animals… trim…
fast… graceful… deer like in structure and movement… noble…
elegant… affectionate… loyal companions to their owners…
devoted… gentle… fun loving… sweet tempered … alert…
lively… calm… quiet… even tempered... laid back… can
be taken anywhere... sensitive… do not do well with rough handling...
respond well to gentle treatment… highly intelligent… quick
witted… reserved with strangers at first… aloof… need early
socialization… independent… easy to live with… get along with
other dogs… usually good with kids… not aggressive… need
protection from cold and sun (if light skinned)… hardy… hairless
have upright ears, coated have drop ears… all colors, but white or pink
background with colored spots is preferred… lack of full dentition in
the hairless... healthy breed with almost no genetic disease...
instruction... curious… independent thinkers…
still primitive… hardy… generally very healthy… sensitive…
relatively calm dogs… playful… get along well with kids when properly
socialized… cheerful… attentive… alert… excellent pets…
exceptionally intuitive… very expressive... super companions for those
who want a devoted dog … extremely loyal to his master… affectionate
with his family... some like to howl to music… do not require much exercise,
but love it… like to lounge on the sofa... protective… guards and
protects naturally… excellent watch dog… good guard dog... like
to "keep an eye" on the visitors, just in case… some don't like to be
touched by visitors or strangers, especially if not well socialized…
suspicious towards strangers... working dog temperament... strong temperament...
tolerate sun well (dark ones)… tan in the sun… need protection
from the sun if light skinned... need protection from cold… tolerate
cold climates with proper clothing… totally devoted to his family and
doesn't care if anybody else exists… tend to bond to one person…needs
early socialization… needs early training with gentle methods, no harsh
corrections…tolerated by many allergic dog owners… adaptable to
all styles of living... eager to please his owner… needs to be involved
in the family life… follows you everywhere, even to the bathroom :o)…
can suffer from skin irritations… some have drug sensitivities…
like to lick themselves like a cat… escape artists… strong
willed… some are energetic, some are placid… can be hardheaded…
some are sweet, some are not so sweet… can be aggressive… can be
suspicious… some are timid… demands attention… can be
highstrung… can be dog aggressive… some might be too much to handle
for a first-time dog owner, especially the large size ones...